88 T.J. Hockenson TE

Hockenson caught one of three targets for seven yards during Sunday's 13-10 victory over the Chargers.

A week after making headlines in the season opener, Hockenson crashed back down to Earth and ultimately finished with six fewer targets than last week and one less than Jesse James. It was interesting that the rookie wasn't used more against a team dealing with injuries at the safety position, but pretty much every Lions receiver took a clear back seat to Kenny Golladay in this one. Hockenson will look to get back on track next Sunday against an Eagles team that let the 35-year-old Vernon Davis find the end zone in Week 1.

Hockenson caught six of nine passes for 131 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 27-27 tie with the Cardinals.

Anyone who wrote off Hockenson because of the "tight ends aren't productive as rookies" narrative needs to quickly reconsider the potential Hockenson provides on the stat sheet. Right out of the gate, the Iowa product saw more targets than any Lions receiver averaged per game in 2018 and he proceeded to translate that workload into the highest receiving total by any tight end in his first career game since the 1970 merger (topping the 103 yards Will Dissly collected last season). Hockenson will look to keep it up in Week 2 against a Chargers team that won't have safety Derwin James (foot) available to play.

Hockenson caught three of four targets for 52 yards during Friday's preseason game against the Bills.

He dropped a pass, but Hockenson was otherwise a standout performer while the Lions' starting offense was on the field. The longest of his gains went for 32 yards. Seemingly an important part of the Lions offense, Hockenson is expected to be the receiving complement to the blocking-oriented Jesse James in 2019.

Hockenson caught one pass for 22 yards during Saturday's preseason game against the Texans.

Hockenson looked smooth during a catch-and-run play that resulted in a quality gain on the rookie's first grab in live action as a pro. However, he also made a mistake that cost the team a Kerryon Johnson run, one on which Hockenson was ticketed with an illegal blocking penalty. Hockenson could see more involvement in the third preseason game next Friday against the Bills.

Hockenson has displayed nice concentration in training camp practices and "doesn't seem to be fazed by traffic in tight spaces at all," Justin Rogers of the Detroit News reports.

Hockenson, who was tabbed with the No. 8 selection in April's draft, has displayed his skills in training camp and is a big part of the future of the Lions offense, but Terez A. Paylor of Yahoo Sports suggests that the talented rookie will "likely start out the year as the (team's) No. 2 tight end behind Jesse James." That's reflected by the Lions' posted depth chart, but not Hockenson's current ADP, which is more reflective of his long-term upside than his likely early season fantasy prospects.

Hockenson was not targeted in the passing game during Thursday's preseason opener against the Patriots.

Hockenson made a couple of nice blocks in the run game, but he was taken out after a handful of snaps. He likely will see more involved in the second and third preseason matchups.

Hockenson has made a strong first impression during the opening days of training camp, Michael Rothstein of ESPN reports.

Hockenson reportedly drew a standing ovation from the crowd after a practice in which he made numerous eyebrow-raising catches in traffic. While we need to keep in mind that the pads have yet to come on, Hockenson has been drawing these kinds of reviews since he came to Detroit and he seems to be on track for a significant role in the Lions passing game. His primary competition for snaps, Jesse James, is reportedly being positioned as the team's primary blocking tight end.

Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said Hockenson could be a "mold breaker" as a rookie, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Specifically, Bevell is referring to the well-publicized tendency for rookie tight ends to struggle in their first season -- presumably due to a steep learning curve that generally involves a combination of learning to block much heavier edge rushers and out-maneuver defensive backs 30-plus pounds lighter. After getting an initial look at Hockenson during the first few weeks of offseason practices, Bevell apparently believes the No. 8 overall pick is already skilled enough as both a blocker and receiver to buck that trend. Hockenson's performance at Iowa last year coupled with his pre-draft workout numbers certainly support that notion. The bigger issue for Hockenson is likely the presence of Jesse James, who signed a lucrative four-year, $22.6 million contract with the Lions earlier in the offseason and could also have a large role in Bevell's offense in 2019.

The Lions selected Hockenson in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, eighth overall.

The Iowa product is the most complete tight end prospect since at least O.J. Howard. Hockenson also fills a major need for the Lions. He entered the year as the supposed backup tight end to Noah Fant before exploding for 49 catches, 760 yards, and six touchdowns on 66 targets. Unlike Eric Ebron, whom the Lions took in 2014 with the 10th overall selection, Hockenson enters the NFL as a polished blocker as well, which will keep him on the field as an every-down player. Hockenson can work in-line or flexed out into the slot.